Hamilton out of NCCAA heptathlon after pulling up in 200

Thursday, May 2, 2013

OC junior Roz Hamilton makes her approach on an attempt during the high jump portion of the heptathlon Thursday at the NCCAA Outdoor Championships.

By Murray Evans JOLIET, Ill. (May 2, 2013) – Roz Hamilton’s bid for the heptathlon title at the National Christian College Athletic Association Outdoor Track and Field Championships ended Thursday when the Oklahoma Christian junior had to drop out on the meet’s opening day.

Hamilton was third in the 10-woman field through the first three events of the seven-event heptathlon but now won’t be able to finish.

“It’s a shame, because she was doing so well,” said assistant coach Jeff Bennett, who works with OC’s multi-event student-athletes. “She was on pace to break that (school) record.”

On a cool, windy and sometimes wet day at Joliet Memorial Stadium, Hamilton opened the heptathlon by running the 100-meter high hurdles in 16.52 seconds, finishing eighth. She cleared 5 feet, ¼ inch (1.54 meters) in the high jump to take fourth and won the shot put with a throw of 39 feet, 1½ inch (11.93 meters).

That gave Hamilton 1,974 points and put her in position for a shot at snapping the longest-standing OC outdoor track record, Julie Haynes’ heptathlon mark of 4,555 points, set in 1987. But as she rounded the curve in the 200, Hamilton pulled up.

Hamilton also was entered in the 4x400-meter relay and the discus. Head coach Randy Heath said he will decide later in the week who might replace Hamilton in the relay.

The meet will resume on Friday, with the first events involving OC competitors set for 2:30 p.m.